Cancer in Lebanon: A Review of Incidence Rates from 2008 to 2015 and Projections Till 2025

Khachfe, Hussein H.; Rahal, Zahraa; Sammouri, Julie; Kheil, Mira; Baydoun, Hussein; Chatila, Dana; Dirawi, Hiba; Fouad, Fouad M.

doi:10.1055/s-0040-1721291

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…For cancer care, the government established the ‘National Cancer Register’ in 2002 [ 5 ], which aimed to measure incidence and classification by type, age and sex, for example [ 6 ]. The ministry was able to provide oncology drugs free of charge since 1999 for all cancer patients in the country with no other formal health coverage [ 7 ], and ran some successful campaigns such as the yearly breast cancer screening campaigns.…”

Section: Cancer Carementioning

confidence: 99%

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Cancer care in Lebanon and the climate-proofing of a burning phoenix

Ibrahim

2023

ecancer

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Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, has been burnt and rebuilt seven times, earning the title of an urban phoenix. Its strategic geolocation in the heart of the Mediterranean gave the country leverage for the economy, by becoming a hotspot for trade through its different ports. Its cultural and religious diversity provided a fertile ground for businesses to grow, most importantly the banking and healthcare sector. The strategic location also put the country in the eye of the storm of different major crises, leaving the small country a crippling state, swamped with political corruption, nepotism, fragile infrastructure, and an overall dysfunctional system. In October 2019, the collapse of the banking system led to a state of hyperinflation in the country, with the financial and economic crisis in Lebanon now ranked in the top 10 most severe crises episodes globally since the mid-nineteenth century. This crisis exposed the extent of corruption and dysfunctionality: a fragmented healthcare sector struggling to protect the vulnerable populations especially cancer patients, a workforce seeking exodus due to challenging work conditions amid a state of hyperinflation, and a fragile infrastructure unable to withstand climate changes in one of the hottest and driest areas on the planet, the Middle East. Despite being caught in this turmoil, Lebanon still managed to update its national climate pledge under the Paris Agreement. However, the financial recovery plan that is aiming to revive the economy and overcome short-term financial challenges, has a risk of affecting long-term climate-proofing efforts. In a multilevel crisis-torn country, it might be difficult to look on the impact of climate change in particular on cancer care, without accounting for the other ongoing troubles. In such circumstances, protecting public health becomes a major challenge yet a priority. The resilience of the system is currently being tested as the crisis evolves, and should be continuously monitored.

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Section: Cancer Carementioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the focus remained on tertiary care and minimal efforts were put on early detection and prevention. Today, Lebanon has the highest incidence of cancer among the Arab countries [ 6 ].…”

Section: Cancer Carementioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer care in Lebanon and the climate-proofing of a burning phoenix

Ibrahim

2023

ecancer

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“…Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the three most prevalent cancers in the world and in Lebanon (1)(2)(3)(4). It has been estimated that 22% of diagnosed patients have metastatic CRC and 25% of those with localized tumor at presentation will develop advanced disease later on (5,6).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can plasma vitamin C predict survival in stage IV colorectal cancer patients? Results of a prospective cohort study

Temraz

Jabbour²,

Nassar³

et al. 2023

Front. Nutr.

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Background and AimsIn light of the inconclusive evidence on the association between vitamin C status and colorectal cancer (CRC) outcome, this study assessed the prognostic value of vitamin C in participants with metastatic CRC (mCRC).MethodsAdults with mCRC and cancer-free controls were recruited in this prospective cohort study to allow for comparison of vitamin C levels with healthy individuals from the same population. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, medical variables, BRAF and KRAS mutations, as well as Vitamin C plasma level and food intake were evaluated. Predictors of diminished vitamin C level were assessed via multivariate logistic regression. Mortality and progression free survival (PFS) among mCRC participants were analyzed based on plasma vitamin C level.ResultsThe cancer group (n = 46) was older (mean age: 60 ± 14 vs. 42 ± 9.6, p = 0.047) and included more males (29% vs. 19%, p < 0.001) than the cancer-free group (n = 45). There was a non-significant difference in the vitamin C intake between the two groups; however, the mean plasma vitamin C level was lower in the cancer group (3.5 ± 3.7 vs. 9.2 ± 5.6 mg/l, p < 0.001). After adjusting for age and gender, the cancer group was more likely to be deficient compared to the cancer-free group [Adjusted Odds Ratio (95%CI): 5.4 (2.1–14)]. There was a non-significant trend for higher mortality in the vitamin C deficient cancer group (31% vs. 12%, p = 0.139). PFS did not differ based on vitamin C deficiency and patients with BRAF and KRAS mutations did not have significant differences in vitamin C levels.ConclusionmCRC patients have lower plasma vitamin C levels than healthy controls. The trend toward higher mortality in the vitamin C deficient cancer group was not statistically significant. Whether this phenomenon affects survival and response to treatment warrants further exploration in phase III clinical trials.

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“…Arab countries are contributing to the cancer burden worldwide. For example, in addition to the steady increase in cancer incidence [8, 10] , Lebanon has the highest number of bladder cancer cases in the world [11] ; the top list also includes Syria and Egypt. Egypt of one of the top contributors to the world’s burden of liver cancer incidence and deaths [3] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer incidence and mortality estimates in Arab countries in 2018: A GLOBOCAN data analysis

Al-Muftah¹,

Al-Ejeh²

2022

Preprint

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Arab countries are projecting continuing growth in cancer incidence and mortality which require improvements in cancer policies and management. However, there are limited studies that investigate and compare the epidemiology of cancer incidence in Arab countries with only few studies addressing the age-specific rates across cancers. Based on the 2018 estimates from the Global Cancer Observatory, this study provides a comprehensive perspective of cancer burden in 2018 in Arab-speaking countries compared to the rest of the world. The age standardized rates for incidence and mortality for all cancers combined in Arab countries were lower than the global rates but the incidence rates of non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma, bladder, breast, and liver cancers were higher. The top-most common cancers and incidence rates, even in age-specific groups, varied between sub-regions of Arab countries (the Levant, Arabian Gulf and Arab African sub-regions), and Iraq and Egypt, suggesting some common and unique environmental factors and possible ethnic or genetic heritages. Arab countries generally had higher mortality-to-incidence ratio than the world's ratio. This study data is essential reference parameter to evaluate and monitor progress of national initiatives for surveillance programs and clinical management improvements tailored towards reducing cancer incidence and mortality in Arab countries.

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Cancer in Lebanon: A Review of Incidence Rates from 2008 to 2015 and Projections Till 2025

Cited by 13 publications

References 35 publications

Cancer care in Lebanon and the climate-proofing of a burning phoenix

Cancer care in Lebanon and the climate-proofing of a burning phoenix

Can plasma vitamin C predict survival in stage IV colorectal cancer patients? Results of a prospective cohort study

Cancer incidence and mortality estimates in Arab countries in 2018: A GLOBOCAN data analysis

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